Republican Rep. Daniel Bonham will keep his seat in Oregon’s 59th House District after early votes show him leading by a wide margin over Democrat Darcy Long-Curtiss.

Bonham, 41, said he believed he would win after his jump to a comfortable lead.

He said he was excited to continue to represent the 59th District, which covers much of north-central Oregon, including all of Jefferson County and far-north Deschutes County cities like Terrebonne and Sisters, in the state Legislature.

“I’m happy that I’ll get to still be the voice for this district and showcase our Oregon to the rest of the state,” he told The Bulletin after initial results came in.

Bonham was appointed to the 59th House District seat in January after 10-year representative John Huffman was selected for a federal government position. He also owns Maupin’s Stoves & Spas in The Dalles, and said his top priority was to bring more jobs to Central Oregon.

Long-Curtiss, 47, is a city councilor in The Dalles and a financial adviser, who said her main concern was improving Oregon’s mental health system.